My bird cover collection

2011-07-11T19:03:00.000+03:00

Here is a cover from Finland with a stamp showing a pair of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). This species of dabbling ducks can be found in wetlands in temperate and subtropical Europe, North Africa, Asia and America. It was also introduced in Australia and New Zealand. As you can see on the stamp the green-headed male is different from the brown and colour-lacking female. This species feed on water plants, invertebrates, gastropods, worms etc. It is migratory.

The stamp was issued in 2010.

Cover from Italy

2011-05-22T21:20:00.000+03:00

This is my first cover from Italy where bird stamps are used. It is also my first registered cover from that country. The set on it was issued in 1995.
Grey heron (Ardea cinerea): It can be found in some parts of Africa and in temperate Asia and Europe. In the colder areas it is migratory. It has four subspecies. It feeds on frogs, fish, insects, reptiles, small mammals and other birds' chicks.
Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus): This bird of prey lives in Asia, north Africa and southern Europe. It can be found in Cyprus too. In the wild it can live for 50-70 years. It is a scavenger.
Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos): I already presented it on a stamp from Algeria.
White-winged snowfinch (Montifringilla nivalis): This species of sparrow can be found in southern Europe and western and central Asia. It has four subspecies. It feeds on seeds and insects.

Old cover from the UK

2011-05-16T23:56:00.000+03:00

This cover was posted in Bath, UK on the 9th of August 1966. The stamp used was issued on the 8th of August of that year as a part of a set of four stamps. It shows Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus). This species was presented in an older post.

2011-04-14T18:45:00.000+03:00

Here is a nice cover from Finland. It appears to be both hand and machine canceled. The 2003 bird stamps shows Eurasian Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) which I have presented in the past.

2011-04-14T17:57:00.000+03:00

Thank you Bryon for this nice cover from the USA. Unfortunately, it appears and it made contact with water during its transportation. The stamps were issued in 2005 and they are part of the Northeast Deciduous Forest. One of them is showing Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis). I will present the birds only. From left to right:
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus): It is a North American Warbler leaving in forests. It has three subspecies.
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo): We have seen this species in the past.
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus): It can be found in the USA and in Mexico. It has five subspecies. It feeds on small birds, small mammals, large insects, reptiles and amphibians. Some of the northern populations migrate to central Mexico in the winter.

Cover from Sri Lanka

2011-04-07T00:06:00.000+03:00

Hello everyone, I am sorry for my long absence from this blog. I finally found enough time to scan new items and show them here. Thank you Ravindra Ratnapala for this excellent cover from Sri Lanka. The bird stamps were issued in 2003 and they are coming from a set of 25 stamps. From left to right:
Tricoloured Munia (Lonchura malacca): It is a finch native to Sri Lanka and India mainly in wet grasslands habitats. It has been introduced to other countries too. It has two subspecies. It feeds on grain and other seeds.
Pompadour Green Pigeon (Treron pompadora): It is a species of pigeon found in southern and southeast Asian forests. It has six subspecies although some countries consider them different species. It feeds on fruit, seeds and plants.
Plum-headed Parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala): This parrot is endemic to the Indian subcontinent in forests and open woodlands. It can be found as a pet.
Coppersmith Barbet or Crimson-breasted Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala): It can be found in south and southeast Asia in gardens, groves and sparse woodlands. It feeds on fruit, berries and insects. It has nine subspecies.
Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica): This species was shown on a cover from Malaysia.

2011-01-13T23:50:00.002+02:00

To finish with the covers I have from this set, here is a simple but yet beautiful cover showing Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis). The same stamp was shown before.

2011-01-13T23:46:00.003+02:00

This bird stamp comes from the same 2007 set of Switzerland and it shows Great Tit (Parus major). Thank you Vural from ICCC.

2011-01-13T22:32:00.004+02:00

Here are two covers from Switzerland with the 2007 Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) stamp. Take notice at the nice machine cancelations. This finch can be found in Europe, northwestern Africa and western Asia. There are 18 subspecies. It feeds on seeds and insects. It can be kept as a pet.

2011-01-11T19:39:00.003+02:00

I am starting 2011 with a cover from the Faroe Islands. The above row of stamps is a full set issued in 1998 while the bellow row comes from a set of three issued in 1977.
European or Common Starling (Stumus vulgaris): This species are located in western Asia and temperate Europe. Some of the northeastern populations migrate south and west. It has 12 subspecies one of which, Sturnus vulgaris faroensis, can be found in the Faroe Islands. As a result I believe this is the bird shown on the stamp. It eats mostly insects but it can also eat seeds, nectar, grain and fruit.
Common or Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula): It can be found in Asia, Europe, North Africa and as the bird above it has been introdused to New Zealand and Australia. Depending on the area it lives it can be migratory or non-migratory. It eats berries, fruit, insects and earthworms. It has 15 subspecies. In the Faroe Islands lives Turdus merula merula.
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus): This wader can be found in Asia, Europe and subarctic North America. It has four subspecies and it is migratory. It eats small invertebrates and small crabs.
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago): It has already presented in the past.

2010-12-28T20:53:00.006+02:00

Thank you Andrew for this postcard from Russia. Both bird stamps used were issued in 2006.
Ross's Gull (Rhodostethia rosea): This small gull, which is named after the British explorer James Clark Ross, can be found in arctic north part of North America and in northeast Siberia. It migrates south but on a short distance. It can eat any small prey.
Siberian Crane or Snow Crane (Grus leucogeranus): It can be found in wetlands in arctic Russia and western Siberia. It migrates in China, Iran and India. It eats aquatic plants. It is classified as critical.

2010-12-28T20:34:00.003+02:00

Thank you Jemma for this aerogamme from Australia.
Wandering Whistling-duck (Dendrocygna arcuata): This whistling duck can be found in subtropical and tropical Australia, in the Pacific Islands, Indonesia, Philippines and Papua New Guinea. It has three subspecies. It is classified as least concerned and it feeds on grass, waterlillies, water plants, aquatic vertebrates and insects. It is a migratory species.

2010-12-28T19:57:00.002+02:00

Merry Christmas to everyone! Here is a pre-paid card from Poland. It was issued in 2006 and it is part of a series showing the beauty of this country. White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) are one of them.

2010-12-23T22:25:00.004+02:00

Thank you Boben for this nice registered cover from India. The m/s was released in 2010. Both the birds it shows are very common. About the Rock Pigeon you can have a look in older posts.
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus): It can be found in most of Europe and Asia. It has 12 subspecies. It feeds mostly on seeds and insects but it is also an opportunistic bird.

2010-12-07T22:11:00.003+02:00

Hello everyone, for my first post in December I chose a WWF cover from Croatia. The stamps used for postage were issued in 2006 and they are a part of a set of four. The whole set is devoted in Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) which I presented in a previous post. Thank you Dragan for the cover.

2010-11-26T21:50:00.003+02:00

Thank you Park for this cover from South Korea. Five bird stamps are used. From left to right:
Japanese White-eye (Zosterops japonicus): The stamp was issued in 1997. It is native in East Asia but it can be found in other countries as a pet. It was also introduced to Hawaii. It feeds on insects and nectar.
Great Tit (Parus major): The stamp was released in 2006. It can be found in woodlands in the Middle East, Europe, parts of North Africa and Northern and Central Asia. It has 14 subspecies. It eats berries, seeds, spiders, insects and caterpillars.
Yellow-billed or Chinese Grosbeak (Eophona migratoria): The stamp was issued in 2002. This species of finch lives in temperate forests in Russia and Asia. It has two subspecies.
Little Tern (Sterna albifrons): The stamp was released in 1994. This seabird can be found in the tropical and temperate coasts and inland waterways of Asia and Europe. In the winter it migrates to the tropical and subtropical oceans so then it can be found even in Australia and South Africa. There are three subspecies. It feeds on fish.
Scops Owl (Otus scops): The stamp was released in 1993. I have presented this species in the past.

2010-11-21T16:07:00.002+02:00

This is my only cover from Maldive Islands. From left to right:
Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus): The stamp was released in 2002. It lives in South and Southeast Asia. It has five subspecies. It feeds mainly on fruit but it can also eat insects, eggs, small vertebrates and caterpillars.
Swinhoe's or Forest or Chinese Snipe (Gallinago megala): The stamp was released in 2002. It can be found in southern and central Siberia and Mongolia. In the winter it migrates to South-east Asia. It feeds on insects, earthworms and mollusks.
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus): The stamp was released in 2002. I have written before about this species.
Sooty Tern (Onychoprion fuscatus): The stamp was released in 2007. This migratory seabird has nine subspecies.

2010-11-21T16:00:00.003+02:00

This great cover from Indonesia has only one bird stamp issued in 2008.
Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise (Seleucidis melanoleucus): This least concern South American bird of paradise can be found in lowland forests. It feeds on arthropods and fruit.

2010-11-21T15:25:00.003+02:00

For today I chose this cover from Argentina, thank you Viviana! Four bird stamps were used. The first two were released in 1976 and the last two in 1972. From left to right:
Golden-collared Macaw (Primolius auricollis): This small macaw is native to Central America mainly in lowlands. It feeds on seeds, flower buds and fruit. It is one of the few lucky parrot species to be classified as least concern.
Plush-crested Jay (Cyanocorax chrysops): It can be found in Central-southern South America. It is also classified as least concern.
Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola): This South American bird eats mostly seeds. It can be found as a pet.
Rufous-bellied Thrush (Turdus rufiventris): It can be found in South America and since 2002 it is Brazil's national bird. It's of least concern and it feeds on arthropods and seeds.

2010-11-05T21:28:00.005+02:00

Thank you Terence for yet another great cover. The whole 2010 Kent Ridge Park Heritage Trail set of four was used and canceled with roller datestamp. It was also dissent to Sri Lanka. Unfortunately the postmark applied by Sri Lanka Post is not very clear in the scan.
Straw-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus zeylanicus): This vulnerable songbird can be found in Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, Burma, Malaysia and Indonesia. It can be found in low trees and shrubs along the banks of rivers and streams, within forest, plantations, gardens, scrubs, reedbeds and mangroves. It feeds on berries, fruits and small invertebrates.
White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster): I wrote about it in previous post.

2010-11-05T20:51:00.003+02:00

Thank you Yumi for this great cover from Japan. Two bird stamps were used for postage. The Common Kingfisher one was issued in 2010 while the Red-crown Crane was issued in 1974 as a part of a set on Japanese folk tales.
Red-crown Crane (Grus japonensis): It is the second rarest crane in the world. It can be found in Siberia and northeastern Mongolia. In the winter it migrates to east Asia. It feeds on aquatic invertebrates, small amphibians, insects and plans which grow in swamps and marshes. It is an endangered species.

2010-10-29T22:18:00.003+03:00

My first cover from Uganda with bird stamps issued in 1992.
Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum): This African bird can be found in dry savvanah. It has two subspecies. It is the national bird of Uganda and it is listed as vulnerable. It feeds on insects, grass seeds and invertebrates.
Abyssinian Roller (Coracias abyssinica): It lives in tropical Africa. Only the northern part of its population migrates southern. It feeds on rodents and large insects.
Shining Blue Kingfisher (Alcedo quadribrachys): This kingfisher can be found in Africa.

2010-10-28T13:42:00.003+03:00

This registered cover from Jordan uses the complete bird issue from 1970.
White-crowned Wheatear (Oenanthe leucopyga): This flycatcher can be found in stony desserts in Africa and in the Arabian Peninsula. It is a rare vagrant to western Europe. It feeds on insects.
Palestine Sunbird (Cinnyris oseus): It can be found in sub-Saharan Africa and Middle East. It has two subspecies. It feeds on nectar and insects.
Masked Shrike (Lanius nubicus): It can be found in Iran, southeastern Europe and the eastern end of the Mediterranean. It the winter it migrates to northeast Africa. It feeds on voles, small birds, lizards and large insects.

2010-10-28T13:23:00.002+03:00

Thank you Daniel for this nice cover from Philippines. The first two stamps are a part of set of four issued in 2009. The last stamp, also coming from a set of four, was released in 2004. In the Philippines can be found 16 owl species.
Luzon Scops-owl (Otus longicornis): It is endemic to the mountains of Luzon island in Philippines.
Philippine Eagle-owl (Bubo philippensis): Another owl endemic to the Philippines. It is classified as vulnerable. It feeds on small mammals and birds and it has two subspecies.
Philippine Scops-owl (Otus megalotis): Also endemic to the forests of the Philippines. It feeds on insects.

2010-10-28T13:08:00.004+03:00

Today I will start with a machine canceled cover from South Africa. The stamp is part of a set of five issued in 2009. Cape Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capensis) is endemic to the southwestern coasts of Africa. It is a near threatened species. It feeds on fish such as sardines.

2010-10-22T20:48:00.001+03:00

I have shown Eagle Owl before but I wanted to present this beautiful FDC from Latvia. I was issued in 2010 as a part of a set of two. The other stamp shows Common Roller.

2010-10-22T20:13:00.002+03:00

Now a FDC from Israel. The set was released in the 27th of January 2010. Eurasian Hoopoe was shown before.
European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis): This finch lives in western and central Asia, North Africa and Europe. When it lives in colder areas it migrates in winter. The species is divated to two major groups with twelve subspecies. It feeds on seeds.
Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis): This warbler is resident to southwest Asia and northeast Africa. There are twelve subspecies.

2010-10-22T18:10:00.003+03:00

This sheet arrived today from Czech Republic inside the above cover. The sheet was issued in 2010 while the bird stamp on the cover is a part of a similar sheet issued in 2007. I have already written about Common Roller, Wallcreeper and Eurasian Hoopoe.
Common or Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus): It can be found in Africa, Asia, Europe and sometimes to the east coast of North America. The birds living in colder areas migrate south in the winter. It feeds on mouse-sized mammals, small birds, lizards, frogs, bats, invertebrates and insects. It has eleven subspecies.
Barred Warbler (Sylvia nisoria): It can be found in temperate Asia and eastern Europe. In winter it migrates to eastern Africa. It is insectivorous but it can also eat berries and soft fruit.
Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus): It lives in temperate areas of the northern hemisphere. In summer it migrates in western Asia and Europe will in winter it can be found in the tropics. It feeds on fruit and insects.

2010-10-16T20:39:00.002+03:00

Thank you James for this card sent from South Korea.
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax): The stamp was released in 2000. This medium-sized heron can be found almost anywhere expect Australasia and the coldest parts of the planet. It eats small fish, crustaceans, small birds, small mammals, frogs and aquatic insects.
Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus): It is the smallest of the holarctic swans and it has two subspecies. It can be found in Arctic and subarctic tundra but it migrates in marshlands and grasslands near the coast. It feeds mostly on aquatic vegetation.

2010-10-16T20:17:00.002+03:00

This is one of the many excellent covers I received from Wand Jia Yi (www.gonewithpostcards.blogspot.com). The stamps and m/s used were issued in 2004. On the m/s you can see Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus) which was already presented in a cover from Thailand. The two stamps depict Indian or Blue Peafowl (Pavo cristatus). This pheasant, which is native to South Asia, is the national bird of India. It feeds on grain, berries, seeds, fruit, insects, lizards, snakes and small rodents. On the first stamp you can see the leucistic variety of the species.

2010-10-16T20:03:00.003+03:00

Thank you Heather for this card from Australia. The lower two values of the four 2009 Songbirds of Australia stamps are used for postage.
Green Catbird (Ailuroedus crassirostris): This bowerbird is endemic to the east coast of Australia where it lives in subtropical forests. It feeds on fruit and flowers.
Noisy Scrub-bird (Atrichornis clamosus): It is also endemic to Australia. It lives in temperate shrubland but due to habitat loss it is threatened and for a while in the past it was considerated exctinct.

2010-10-16T19:40:00.003+03:00

Thank you Dao for both the cards you sent me from Vietnam, this is the 1st one. The stamp, issued in 2010, is a part of a set of three plus a m/s. Spoon;billed Sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmeus) is a small wader. It can be found in northeastern Russia and in winter, when it migrates, in South and Southeast Asia. It is an endangered species.

2010-10-16T19:33:00.002+03:00

This card was sent to me by a postcrossing member traveling to Cape Verde, thank you! The Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) was shown here before. The stamp was issued in 2010.

2010-10-16T19:19:00.003+03:00

Thank you Nevasara for yet another great postcard. The penguin stamp was released in 2000 and the loon one in 2005.
Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus maggellanicus): It lives in South America. It is of medium size and it feeds on crustaceans. It is a threatened species.
Black-throated or Arctic Loon (Gavia arctica): This migratory bird can be found in the northern hemisphere. It feeds on fish.

2010-10-14T00:11:00.009+03:00

Hello everyone, today I will present this cover sent to me from USA, thank you Michael. The whole Hawaiian Rain Forest set is used. It was released in September 2010 and as you can see it was sent to Hawaii for the special first day postmark. Five of the ten stamps depict birds and four of the five species are presented for the first time on stamps. From left to right:
Apapane (Himatione sanguinea): This finch is endemic to Hawaii. It mostly feeds on nectar from flowers but it can also eat insects.
Omao (Myadestes obscurus): This thrush is also endemic to Hawaii and it is listed as vulnerable. It feeds on fruit, berries, snails, insects and flower bracts.
Akepa (Loxops coccineus): Also endemic to Hawaii, this bird has three subspecies but only Loxops coccineus coccineus has not been extinct. It feeds on small caterpillars which it finds on 'Ohi'a-lehua trees leaf buds. It also feeds on this tree's nectar and on insects and arthropods it finds on koa trees.
Hawaii Amakihi (Hemignathus virens): It is endemic to Hawaii too. It is one of the most common honeycreepers there. This finch eats nectar, juices from fruit, insects and spiders.
Iiwi (Vestiaria coccinea): This endemic to Hawaii Hawaiian hummingbird-niched species is endangered. It feeds on nectar and small arthropods.

2010-08-26T00:51:00.003+03:00

Hello, I am back after my long disappearance from my blog with a cover from Spain with a stamp issued in 2009. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) is a white heron of small size. It has two subspecies. It can be found in temperate parts of Asia, Europe, Africa and Australia near wetlands. I t is also introduced in America. In warmer areas is a resident bird but northern populations migrate to Africa and southern Asia. It feeds on fish, amphibians, insects, reptiles and crustaceans. It is an endangered species.

2010-07-15T16:27:00.005+03:00

Today I will show this postcard from Belgium with a 2002 Flycatcher stamp. Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) is an Old World Flycatcher and it can be found mostly in Europe and Asia but also in Canada, Alaska and Greenland. It migrates to Africa. It has six subspecies. It feeds on insects but it can also eat berries.

2010-07-12T00:25:00.005+03:00

This set was issued in 1998 by USA.
Antillean Euphonia (Euphonia musica): This finch can be found in tropical and subtropical dry forests in islands of Antilles. It mainly eats berries.
Green-throated Carib (Eulampis holosericeus): This hummingbird is located in the Caribbean region. It has two subspecies.
Akohekohe or Crested Honeycreeper (Palmeria dolei): This finch is endemic to Hawaii's island Maui and it can be found in its wet forests. It feeds on nectar and insects. Its main source of food is the nectar of the Metrosideros polymorpha. It is an endangered species.
Cardinal Honeyeater (Myzomela cardinalis): It is located in Vanuatu, American Samoa, Samoa and Solomon Islands. It feeds mostly on nectar.

2010-07-09T16:42:00.003+03:00

This set was issued in 2009 and it is a joint issue with Bulgaria.
Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola): It can be found in temperate and subarctic Eurasia. Its main food is earthworms but its diet also includes insects and their larvae, seeds and freshwater molluscs. It is a game bird.
Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis): It can be found from southern Europe to central Asia to northern China. In winter it migrates south of the Sahara. It feeds on berries, insects and small reptiles.

2010-07-07T17:43:00.003+03:00

Another cover from Malaysia. This one is registered and it traveled via Hong Kong. I also has a postmark "posted out of course" in both English and Malay. The bird stamp is coming from 2005 definitive set. Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica) lives in northern and eastern Australia and in tropical southern Asia. It finds on seeds and fruit. It is the state bird of India's state Tamil Nadu.

2010-07-06T14:48:00.004+03:00

For today I chose this cover from Uzbekistan which I received a few days ago. The bird stamps are from 2009. In the second image you can see a postmark in russian that it was applied to the back of the cover. It translates:
RECEIVED WITH TRACES OF GLUE
MOSCOW MMPO
Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis): This endangered goose breeds in Arctic Europe and in winter it migrates south. It feeds on grass leaves and shoots.
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus): See Finland
Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca): It is a medium-sized diving duck. It can be found in lakes and marshes in Asia and Europe. It migrates to North Africa. It feeds on aquatic plants, aquatic insects, small fish and molluscs.
Lesser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus): It can be found in northernmost Asia and there is a programme for its re-introduction to Fennoscandia. It is an endangered species. It is herbivorous.

2010-07-04T17:53:00.006+03:00

Here is another cover from Malaysia with a variety of bird stamps. From left to right:
White-faced Hill-partridge (Arborophila orientalis): This stamp is coming from 2001 Quail and Partridge set. This threatened pheasant can be found only in Indonesia's tropical and subtropical moist montanes.
White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus): I have already talked about it.
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta): The stamp was issued in 2006. This species lives in northern parts of Europe, Asia and North America. It eats plant food and small invertebrates. It is a migratory bird.
Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus): The stamps was also released in 2001. It can be found in China, Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia. This pheasant is the ancestor of the domestic chicken. Including the domestic one it has six subspecies. It is omnivorous.

2010-07-04T02:09:00.005+03:00

In this post I just want to present two covers from Cyprus just to show the rates for domestic mail. For a normal envelope weighing 20-100g (1st envelope) the rate is o.34 euro plus the Refugee Fund stamp and for a registered envelope 2.05 euro plus the Refugee Fund stamp.
The 1st envelope was mailed from Larnaka to Nicosia and the 2nd one from Aradippou Post Office to the same address.
The first envelope was machine canceled and the S24/2009 commemorative slogan is used celebrating the World Post Day 9.10.2009. This slogan was used from the 5th of October until the 9th of the same month. The same slogan is used every year for this event.

2010-07-04T01:44:00.005+03:00

Thank you Daniela for this excellent cover. The full 2006 Eurasian or Common Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) set is used. This species can be found in marshy wetlands in North Africa and in southern Eurasia. Most birds migrate to Africa for the winter. There are three subspecies. It feeds on fish, amphibians and crustaceans. It is a protected species.

2010-07-03T00:46:00.003+03:00

I will now show you another of my self-made maxi cards. I used a 2009 stamp from Cyprus set Domestic Fowls.
Two things are wrong with the maxi card. The most visible is the quality of the postmark. This is due to the surface of the card which is not suitable for the ink used by the post office.
The second mistake is that while the stamp shows a Domestic Turkey the card shows a Wild Turkey (Meleagris Gallopavo) although they both are the same species.
Wild Turkey and specifically one of its six subspecies M.G.Gallopavo (South Mexican subspecies) is the ancestor of the domestic one. Wild Turkey is native to North America and it is omnivorous.

2010-07-02T10:06:00.005+03:00

In 2008 Azores issued a set of stamps and a variety of souvenir sheets devoted to the endangered species Azores Bullfinch (Pyrrhula murina). On the upper stamp of this s/s you can see the male and on the bottom stamp the female. It is endemic to Azores. It feeds on seeds, flower buds and fruit.

2010-07-01T18:48:00.003+03:00

Here are two FDCs devoted to the Black Stork (Ciconia nigra). The first one was issued from Belarus in 2005 and it has the WWF logo on it. The second one was issued in 2006 from Algeria. It can be found in warmer Europe and it migrates in tropical Africa and India. It feeds mostly on insects, amphibians and fish.

2010-07-01T18:26:00.009+03:00

Thank you Katrin for this great postcard from Estonia. For postage is used Estonia's 2010 Bird of the Year stamp. Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) lives in western Asia and most of Europe. It migrates to tropical Africa. It feeds on insects, small birds, small mammals and small reptiles. It is protected in the UK.

2010-06-30T19:12:00.004+03:00

Another cover from Hong Kong with stamps from the 2006 definitive set. Scarlet Minivet is already presented. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) is a small heron with two subspecies. E.g.garzetta breeds in Africa, Asia and Europe and E.g.nigripes in Australasia and Indonesia. It feeds on fish, amphibians, crustaceans, reptiles and insects. It is an endangered species.

2010-06-30T18:53:00.004+03:00

Thank you Terence for this great cover from Singapore. Two stamps from a 2007 set are used.
Golden-backed Three-toed Woodpecker (Dinopium javanense): This species is also known as Common Flamed-back Woodpecker. It can be found in tropical and subtropical forests in Singapore, Brunei, China, Malaysia, Philippines and other neighboring countries.
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava): It can be found in temperate Europe and Asia. Northern and eastern populations migrate to Africa. It has 17 subspecies.

2010-06-29T14:53:00.003+03:00

This is the complete 2008 WWF set issued by Macedonia and it is devoted to Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops). It has nine subspecies. It lives in Europe, Asia, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. The European and North Asian birds migrates to the tropical regions. It feeds mostly on insects but it can also eat seeds, berries, frogs and small reptiles.

2010-06-28T16:15:00.003+03:00

Thank you George for this great cover from Taiwan. The stamps used were issued in 2007 and 2008.
Varied Tit (Cyanistes varius): The stamp was released in 2007. It can be found in forests in southeastern Russia, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and northeastern China. It feeds on insects and seeds and it has nine subspecies.
Yellow-throated or Grey-chinned Minivet (Pericrocotus solaris): The stamp was issued in 2007. It lives in forests in China and Taiwan. It has eight subspecies.
Long-tailed or Rufus-backed Shrike (Lanius schach): The stamp was issued in 2008. It can be found in scrubby bushlands the Indomalayan ecozone and it migrates to southern areas. It eats large insects, lizards, small birds and rodents. It has nine subspecies.
Bronzed Drongo (Dicrurus aeneus): The stamp was released in 2008. It lives in the forests of south and southeast Asia. It feeds on insects.

2010-06-27T13:50:00.004+03:00

Thank you Laura for this great Canadian cover with the complete 1986 bird set. It is also used a 1988 stamp showing a Mallard.
Snow or Blue Goose (Chen caerulensces): It breeds in Greenland, Canada and Alaska and it migrates to warmer parts of USA and to Mexico. It feeds on grain and it has two subspecies.
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias): It can be found in wetlands and shores of open water in West Indies, Galapagos Islands and North and Central America. It has five subspecies. It feeds on small fish, shrimps, crabs, aquatic insects, small birds, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians.
Spruce Grouse (Falcipennis canadensis): This medium-sized grouse lives in coniferous forests in Alaska and Canada. It feeds on conifer needles, insects, berries and green plants.
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus): It is a large owl native to the Americas. It has about 13 subspecies. It hunts medium-sized mammals and birds and sometimes amphibians, insects, fish, reptiles and crustaceans.

2010-06-25T20:59:00.004+03:00

Today I received my first mail from Suriname, a postcard with two stamps issued in 1977.

Grey-breasted Sabrewing (Campylopterus largipennis): This large hummingbird has one subspecies and it can be found east of the Andes in tropical South America.

Caica Parrot (Pionopsitta caica): It can be found in tropical and subtropical forests in Brazil, Suriname, French Guiana, Guyana and Venezuela. The feed on eucalypt flowers, nectar, fruit and pollen.

2010-06-24T18:48:00.004+03:00

Another registered cover from Philippines this time with full 2007 Kingfishers set. A 1993 anti-TB seal is also used.
Variable Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx lepidus): It can be found in subtropical and tropical forests in Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.
Spotted Wood Kingfisher (Halcyon lindsayi): It is endemic to Philippines and it can be found in tropical and subtropical forests.
White-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis): It is a tree kingfisher living in eastern Europe and Asia. It feeds on fish, snakes, insects, earthworms, small reptiles, birds, crabs, small rodents and amphibians. It has four subspecies. I believe that H.s.gularis is shown on the stamp as it is the subspecies that can be found in Philippines.
Collared Kingfisher (Todirhamphus chloris): It can be found from Red Sea to southern Asia to Australasia and up to Polynesia. It has about 50 subspecies! It feeds on small crabs, small fish, lizards, worms, frogs, insects, snails and shrimps.
Palawan Peacock-Pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis): This medium-sized pheasant is also known as Napoleon Peacock-Pheasant. This endangered species is endemic to the Philippines.

2010-06-24T18:34:00.003+03:00

In 2008 Philippines issued a set of four parrot stamps. Here is a registered cover with three of them along with 2009 Mugimaki Flycatcher stamp.
Red-vented Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia): This endangered species is endemic to Philippines. One of the factors that threaten it is its popularity as a pet. It feeds on seeds, fruit, flowers, nectar and buds.
Great-billed Parrot (Tanygnathus megalorhynchos): Another pet parrot. This bird can be found in forests, mangroves and woodlands is south-east Asian islands. It feeds on fruit.
Blue-naped Parrot (Tanygnathus lucionensis): It can be found in forests and plantations in Philippines and Borneo. It feeds on berries, seeds, grain and nuts. It has three subspecies and it is threatened by illegal trade in the pet market.

2010-06-22T21:28:00.009+03:00

Sometime ago I presented a cover from Malaysia with a Milky Stork stamp. Here is the rest of the 2009 set along with a stamp of the 2005 definitive set.
White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus): It lives in south and southeast Asia. It feeds on insects.

Malayan Peacock-Pheasant (Polyplectron malacense): It is a medium-sized pheasant endemic to lowland forests of Malay Peninsula. This threatened species feeds on fruit and small arthropods.

Malayan Whistling-thrush (Myophonus robinsoni): It is endemic to Malaysia. It is specialized on eating snails amongst others.

2010-06-22T21:06:00.004+03:00

This is my only cover from Thailand. Three of the stamps used for postage are related to my topic and they were issued in 2001, 1996 and 2008.
Mustached Parakeet (Psittacula alexandri): It is also known as Red-breasted Parakeet. It has eight subspecies and it lives in China, India and Indonesia. It is a threatened species as it is a famous pet.
Rufous-necked Hornbill (Aceros nipalensis): It lives in forests in south Asia. It is yet another endangered species. It feeds on fruit.
Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus): It lives in the tropical forests of southeast Asia. It has three subspecies. It eats fruit, reptiles, invertebrates and other small animals. It is too a threatened species. The stamp is coming from a m/s of two.

2010-06-22T16:43:00.005+03:00

Thank you Jan for this envelope from Philippines. Both bird stamps were issued in 2009.
Mugimaki Flycatcher (Ficedula mugimaci): It is also known as Robin Flycatcher and it lives in eastern Asia. It is a migratory bird and it feeds on insects.
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus): This bird lives in temperate Asia and in winter it migrates in tropical Asia. It has some subspecies.

2010-06-22T16:13:00.005+03:00

Thank you Li for this beautiful cover from China. The bottom stamp comes from a 2008 m/s and it shows a Formosan Blue Magpie. The other two stamps were issued in 2002.
Cabot's Tragopan (Tragopan caboti): This pheasant is located in forests in south-east China. It has two subspecies. It is listed as an endangered species.
Xinjiang Ground-Jay (Podoces biddulphi): This endangered species is endemic to China.

2010-06-21T17:57:00.004+03:00

Now I will present another cover from Hong Kong with another two values of the 2006 definitive series.
White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster): It lives on the coasts of southeast Asia and Australia. It feeds on fish, turtles, sea snakes, birds and mammals which it catches.
Scarlet Minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus): It lives in tropical southern Asia. This bird is 20-22 cm long. It has many subspecies. It eats insects.

2010-06-21T17:42:00.003+03:00

Here is a cover from Kenya with four same stamps from a 1993 set. African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) as it's name states lives in Africa near freshwater lakes and rivers where it finds its main source of food, fish. This species also feeds on Flamingos, small turtles, baby crocodiles, waterfowl and carrion.

2010-06-20T13:46:00.004+03:00

Here is another cover from Denmark with a couple of 2009 Peregrine Falcon stamps. I have already written about this species.

2010-06-20T13:37:00.005+03:00

Thank you Christina for this nice cover from Denmark. The Skylark (Alauda arvensis) stamp was issued in 2010. It lives in Europe, Asia and north Africa. Only the eastern populations migrate. It eats insects and seeds.

2010-06-20T13:15:00.006+03:00

Thank you Edna for this great cover which is my third from Austria. The stamps from left to right were released in 2007, 2010 and 2008. For Golden Eagle you can have a look in my algerian stamps and for Common Kingfisher in a cover from Hong Kong.
European Roller (Coracias garrulus): It lives in Europe, Middle East, central Asia and northern Africa. In winter it migrates to southern Africa. It has two subspecies. This threatened species feeds on frogs, small reptiles, large insects and rodents.

2010-06-20T03:03:00.003+03:00

Here is a cover from South Africa. This African Penguin ( Spheniscus demersus) stamp was released in 1997. This seabird lives in the south-western coast of Africa and feeds on fish. It is an endangered species.

2010-06-20T02:38:00.007+03:00

Here is another cover from USA badly postmarked. The bird stamps from left to right were issued in 1969, 1971, and 1994. The last two were a joint issue with China. We already talked about California Condor so I will focus on the other three stamps.
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus): It is a member of the woodpecker family. This migratory bird lives in North and Central America in woodlands. It has three subspecies of which one is unfortunately extinct. It feeds on insects, fruit, berries, nuts and seeds.

Whooping Crane (Grus americana): It lives in North America and it is an endangered species. They feed on crustaceans, mollusks, aquatic insects, fish, frogs, snails, small rodents, berries etc.

Black-Necked Crane (Grus nigricollis): It lives in Asia and it is an endangered species. Like all cranes, they are too omnivorous.

2010-06-20T02:35:00.002+03:00

Here is a cover from USA with a Ring-necked Pheasant stamp used for postage. The stamp was issued in 1988. This species was already presented in a Chinese cover.

2010-06-20T02:16:00.005+03:00

I am back with a cover from Israel with a block of four bird stamps. This stamp was released in 1992 and it is the lowest value of a set of ten. Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria) is the only member of the genus Tichodroma. It lives in Europe and Asia in mountains and it has two subspecies. It mostly feeds on insects and spiders.

2010-06-06T00:39:00.003+03:00

Here is my last cover from Belarus with three of the four stamps from the 2008 owl issue. Attached to the last stamp is also a label coming from the stamp sheet.
Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo): This owl is resident in Europe and Asia and it can be found in mountains and forests. It feeds on small mammals, birds, frogs, lizards, snakes, fish and crabs.
Eurasian Scops Owl (Otus scops): This small migratory owl lives in southern Europe and central and western Asia. It feeds on insects and other invertebrates.

2010-06-06T00:27:00.004+03:00

This is my favourite cover from Belgium which is also very well canceled. We have already seen all the stamps here except for the last one which was released in 2005. Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus) lives in southern Europe, north Africa and in the Mediterranean Islands. It feeds on invertebrates, grain and small seeds.

2010-06-06T00:15:00.004+03:00

Thank you Tanya for this great cover. The first stamp of the Little Owl is coming from a set of four issued in 2008. The second stamp was issued in 2005 and it shows Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa). This species lives in the Northern Hemisphere. It feeds on small mammals and birds.

2010-06-05T01:01:00.004+03:00

Little Owl (Athene noctua): The stamp was issued in 2007. This owl has a few subspecies and it is a member of the Stringidae family. It feeds on insects, earthworms, amphibians, small birds and small mammals.
Willow Tit (Poecile montanus): The stamp was issued in 1997 and it is in Belgium's old currency. This endangered species lives in Europe and it feeds on insects, caterpillars and seeds.
Spotted or Eurasian Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes): The stamp was released in 2008. This bird lives in Asia and Europe. It has ten subspecies. It feeds on seeds of pines, insects, small birds, eggs, nestlings, small rodents and carrion.

2010-06-05T00:50:00.006+03:00

Here is yet another cover cover from Belgium unfortunately not well canceled. I will only present the first two stamps as we have already seen the rest.

Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca): The stamp was released in 2007. This dabbling duck is also know as Common Teal. It lives in temperate Asia and Europe in freshwater wetlands. It is a migratory bird. It feeds on aquatic invertebrates and seeds of aquatic plants and grasses.

Dunnock (Prunella modularis): The stamp was issued in 2008. It lives in temperate Asia and Europe and it was introduced in New Zealand. It is a migratory species and a host of the Common Cuckoo.

2010-06-05T00:33:00.004+03:00

A nice cover from Finland with pictorial postmarks. The bird stamp was issued in 2002. Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) is a large swan which lives in wetlands in subarctic Europe and subarctic Asia. It migrates in eastern Asia and northern Europe.

2010-06-03T20:50:00.004+03:00

Unfortunately this cover was machine canceled and not all stamps have been canceled. I will write only about the three birds that did not appear in the previous cover.
Eurasian Jackdaw (Corvus monedula): The stamp was issued in 2007. It lives in western Asia, Europe and north Africa. It has four subspecies. It is an opportunist feeder. It eats food waste, a wide variety of plant material and invertebrates.
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago): The stamp was issued in 2003. This small wader bird lives in northern Asia and northern Europe in marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows. It is a migratory species. It has two subspecies. It is a game bird.
Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola): This stamp was issued in 2009. It lives in temperate and subarctic Europe and Asia. The northern populations are migratory. It feeds on earthworms, insects and larvae, freshwater mollusks and some plant seeds. It is more active at dawn and dusk. It is a game bird.

2010-06-03T20:37:00.005+03:00

A nice cover from Belgium both machine and hand canceled.
Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos): The stamp was issued in 2004. This species with the melodic voice lives in forests and scrub in Europe and south-west Asia. In the winter it migrates to southern Africa. It is considered to be an Old World Flycatcher.
Boreal or Tengmalm's Owl (Aegolius funereus): The stamp was released in 2007. This species lives in Asia, North America and Europe. It feeds on voles and other mammals, birds, insects and other invertebrates.

2010-06-03T17:50:00.005+03:00

Thank you Boben for this nice postcard from India. The 2009 penguin stamp comes from a set of two. The other stamp shows polar bears. The set was issued in 2009 under the topic Preserve the polar regions and glaciers, a topic under which many countries issued stamps last year. About the Emperor Penguin you can read in the post about Chile's cover.

2010-06-03T17:38:00.004+03:00

My first postcard from Indonesia. The stamp is part of a m/s issued in 2008. The other half of the m/s does not show a bird. Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) ia a large flightless bird. It lives in the tropical rain forests of Indonesia, New Guinea and northeastern Australia. It feeds on fruit, shoots, grass seeds, fungi, small vertebrates and invertebrates. It is a threatened species.

2010-06-03T17:28:00.004+03:00

A very nice postcard from Belgium but unfortunately machine canceled. The owl stamp was issued in 2009. Tawni Owl (Strix aluco) is of medium size. It lives in woodlands in Europe and Asia. It has 11 subspecies, it doesn't migrate and it is very territorial. As most owls is a nocturnal bird. It hunts rodents, birds, small mammals, earthworms and beetles.

2010-06-02T22:38:00.005+03:00

Thank you Cristina for this postcard from Brazil. The bird stamp comes from a m/s of six issued in 2009. Yellow-billed Blue Finch (Porphyrospiza caerulescens) is a near threatened species which lives in east Bolivia and central and north-east Brazil in dry savanna.

2010-06-02T22:15:00.004+03:00

Thank you Pam for this beautiful postcard from Switzerland. The stamp was issued in 2008. Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush (Monticola saxatilis) is the second member of the Thrush family that I am presenting. It lives in southern Europe and from central Asia to northern China. In the winter it migrates to Africa. It feeds on insects, small reptiles and berries.

2010-06-02T22:03:00.004+03:00

Red-breasted Mergansed (Mergus serrator) is a diving duck. It lives in freshwater rivers and lakes in northern North America, Asia, Europe and Greenland. It is a migratory and game bird. It feeds on small fish, aquatic insects, crustaceans and frogs.

2010-06-02T21:58:00.005+03:00

American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) is a dabbling duck. It lives in North America and it is partially migratory. It is also a game bird. It feeds by dabbling in shallow water and grazing on land. It eats plants, aquatic insects and molluscs.

2010-06-02T21:55:00.004+03:00

The second prepaid postcard of the set. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is also a migratory and game bird. It lives in temperate and subtropical America, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Asia in wetlands.

2010-06-02T21:37:00.004+03:00

Here is a prepaid postcard from Canada's Duck Decoy's 2006 issue. Barrow's Goldenneye (Bucephala islandica) is a medium-size sea duck. It lives in eastern Canada and Iceland. It is a migratory and game bird. It dives for aquatic insects, crustaceans and pond vegetation. It is named after Sir John Barrow.

2010-06-02T00:13:00.005+03:00

My only mail from Georgia with the full set of 2007 WWF Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga). It lives in Asia, Europe and Middle East and it migrates. It feeds on small mammals. It is a threatened species.

2010-06-02T00:05:00.003+03:00

Another cover from Taiwan. Greater Painted-snipe (Rostratula benghalensis) stamp was released in 2009. This species lives in Africa and Asia in marshes in groups of up to 12 birds. It feeds on seeds, insects, molluscs and crustaceans.

2010-06-01T23:50:00.003+03:00

A nice hand-canceled cover from Taiwan. The stamp was issued in 2008. Grey Treepie or Himalayan Treepie (Dendrocitta formosae) lives in Asia in both forests and human habitation and it has several subspecies. It eats a variety of food: insects and other invertebrates, nectar, berries, grain, seeds, nestlings, eggs and small reptiles.

2010-06-01T23:43:00.003+03:00

Here is a cover from Hong Kong with a strip of 3 Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) stamps. Common Kingfisher lives in Europe, Asia and north Africa and it migrates when the water is frozen. It dives to catch fish. It also feeds on freshwater shrimps and aquatic insects. It is a small kingfisher and it has seven subspecies.

2010-06-01T23:28:00.004+03:00

In 2009 Malaysia issued a set of 3 bird stamps and a m/s. Here is the Milky Stork (Mycteria cinerea) stamp on a cover with machine cancellation.
Milky Stork lives in Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia near mangroves. It feeds on mudskippers, small fish, frogs and snakes. It is an endangered species and the populations in Thailand and Vietnam have already extincted.

2010-05-31T23:35:00.006+03:00

Thank you Yulia for this postcard. The bird stamp is part of a m/s issued by Ukraine in 2008. Cinereus Vulture (Aegypius monachus) is also known as Black Vulture. It lives in southern Europe and Asia. It is one of the largest vultures. In Europe it is on the verge of extinction due to poisoning.

2010-05-31T23:17:00.006+03:00

Thank you Nestor for this postcard from Cuba. The stamp was issued in 1995 and it comes from a set of six stamps. Red-legged Thrush (Turdus plumbeus) can be found in Haiti, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Cuba etc in forests. It feeds mostly on fruit but it also eats snails, insects, birds' eggs, lizards and frogs.

2010-05-31T18:45:00.004+03:00

Another Norfolk Island set issued in 2009 along with the FDC. I like the idea of showing the birds' eggs on the FDC.

New Zealand Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa): This bird can be found in New Zealand, Chatham Islands and Lord Howe Island. It has a few subspecies. It feeds on insects.

Pacific Robin (Petroica multicolor): It lives in the forests of the south western Pacific islands and it has 14 subspecies. It feeds on insects, spiders and pseudoscorpions.

Australian Golden Whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis): It can be found in Australia and Indonesia living in forests. It eats insects, spiders and other small arthropods.

Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus): It lives in river valleys, mangroves and forests in Australia, Fiji, Norfolk Island, New Caledonia, New Zealand etc. It is 19-23 cm Long and it feeds on insects, small fish, small rodents and reptiles.

2010-05-31T18:30:00.003+03:00

Here is the maximum card showing Norfolk Parakeet (Cyanoramphus cookii) which is endemic to the island. It lives in forests but it visits plantations to find fruit. It also eats seeds, flowers and leaves. It nests in tree-hollows. This parrot is threatened due to habitat loss.

2010-05-31T18:12:00.005+03:00

Thank you Peter for this excellent cover from Australia. Excellent commemorative postmarks canceling all the stamps. This strip of five stamps came from this m/s which was issued at the 4th of August 2009. Species at risk is a joint issue between the Australian territories: Australia, Norfolk Island, Australian Antarctic Territory, Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands. About the parrot I will talk in the next post.

2010-05-31T00:12:00.003+03:00

The stamp used comes from a set of 12 stamps issued in 2009. All the stamps of the set are devoted to birds. Red-billed Pied Tanager (Lamprospiza melanoleuca) lives in the Amazon rain forest and it is the only member of the genus Lamprospiza. It feeds on fruit and insects.

2010-05-30T23:57:00.003+03:00

Thank you Rajko for this great cover. The full 2007 set is used. The first stamp is another Golden Eagle stamp. The second one is the Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus). It is a small gull which lives in Asia, Europe and eastern coastal Canada. It is a migratory species and like many sea birds it breeds in colonies. As an opportunist feeder, it doesn't only fish but insects, seeds, worms, scraps and carrion.

2010-05-30T23:35:00.005+03:00

Thank you Brian for this cover with two 2003 stamps and a machine cancellation. I have already written about the Peregrine Falcon so I will focus on the 1st stamp of White Wagtail (Motacilla alba). It lives in parts of north Africa, in Europe and in Asia. They birds living in in the colder places migrate in the winter. This bird has 11 subspecies. Its diet includes insects, worms, spiders, snails and sometimes small fish.

2010-05-30T22:36:00.005+03:00

Not of my favorite covers as it has many not related to my topic stamps, it was hand canceled. The bird on this 1973 stamp is European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis). It is a small bird of the finch family. It lives in Europe, western and central Asia and north Africa. The birds living in the colder places migrate in the winter. It eats small seeds and teasels. This species is also a popular pet because of its melodic singing and beautiful plumage.